Biological material, method of preparing such materials

Abstract

A biological material is prepared for use in ophthalmology by steps of providing animal pericardium, subjecting the animal pericardium to multiple steps of freezing and thawing in a salt solution and incubating the animal pericardium in a solution of ammonia and ethyl alcohol. The multiple steps of freezing and thawing are conducted in a mixture of about 0.9% sodium chloride solution and distilled water in about 1:1 proportions of sodium chloride solution to distilled water. The incubating step is conducted in a mixture of 1% ammonia solution and 1% ethyl alcohol solution in about 1:1 proportions of ammonia solution to ethyl alcohol solution over a period of 48 to 72 hours.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of preparing a biological material suitable for use in ophthalmology, comprising the steps of: 
       providing animal pericardium;  
       subjecting said animal pericardium to multiple steps of freezing and thawing in a solution of sodium chloride and water; and  
       incubating said animal pericardium in a solution of ammonia and ethyl alcohol to produce a biological material suitable for use in ophthalmology.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising subjecting the animal pericardium to multiple steps of freezing and thawing in a mixture of about 0.9% sodium chloride solution and distilled water in about 1:1 proportions of sodium chloride solution to distilled water. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solution of ammonia comprises a mixture of 1% ammonia/water solution and 1% ethyl alcohol/water solution in about 1:1 proportions of ammonia solution to ethyl alcohol solution. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , comprising twice incubating the animal pericardium in said solution over a period of 48 to 72 hours. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: after said step of incubating, subjecting said animal pericardium to multiple rinsing steps. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of subjecting comprises rinsing the animal pericardium 5 times for 15 to 30 minutes each time, in distilled water. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising sterilizing said animal pericardium. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said sterilizing comprises placing said pericardium in a solution of 70% ethyl alcohol and sterilizing with about 2.5 megarads of gamma irradiation. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: prior to said step of subjecting, mechanically cleaning and cutting a raw material of animal origin to provide said animal pericardium. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: after said incubating, forming said biological material into an anti-glaucoma drainage tube. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: after said incubating, preparing a scleroplastic material from said biological material. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: after said incubating, forming said biological material into a material for treating macular dystrophies. 
     
     
       13. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       14. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 2 . 
     
     
       15. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 3 . 
     
     
       16. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 4 . 
     
     
       17. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 5 . 
     
     
       18. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 6 . 
     
     
       19. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 7 . 
     
     
       20. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 8 . 
     
     
       21. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 9 . 
     
     
       22. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 10 . 
     
     
       23. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 11 . 
     
     
       24. A biological material, comprising the product of the process of  claim 12 .